How to clean old storage bottles?

[Arjay]

I'm in the process to revitalize some old B&W lab gear to do home-development of my silver halide films. I have an assortment of bottles I could use to store developer, fixer and´stop bath agents.

Since I'm not sure what has previously been stored in which bottle, I'd like to clean them. I want to reduce the risk of contaminating my new developer and fixer solutions by chemical remnants that might still be left in the old bottles.

What cleaning agents should I use to thoroughly clean the bottles, and which hints or safety precautions should I follow?

 

[Ronald M]

Bottle brush.

Just stay away from plastic that may not clean. I have no plastic in my darkroom. Negs are clean where as there was nothing but trouble before. Water and air filters and a clean room work wonders.

 

[Dwig]

If they are polyethylene (the most common plastic for bottles) bottles then they can't be successfully cleaned. The plastic is slightly porous and you can remove what chemicals have leached into the plastic.

Cleaning glass bottles is reasonable. If they are plastic you should replace them. Its poor economy to attempt to reuse bottles that are inexpensive to replace.

 

[payasam]

For glass bottles, hot soapy water as advised. Where necessary, dilute hydrochloric acid. And, of course, a lot of muscle work.

 

[Roger Hicks]

A handful of lead shot, or BBs, helps scour out the interior. Agitate vigorously.

Cheers,

R.